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Curriculum Vitae Velvet Fist began its life as Artery Choir in 1984 as female and male voices. Our roots stem from the international struggle for socialism, trade union representation and the peace movement. In 1986 we became a group of a cappella singers with Graham Knight as our musical director and officially changed our name in 1990 to Velvet Fist. Lesley Larkum took over as musical director in 2005. Velvet Fist highlights are: Tony Benn's 70th Birthday party, House of Commons Our arrangement of The Red Flag on BBC Radio 4 Levellers Day, Burford Hague Appeal for Peace, London Support to Holly Near at Raise Your Banners '99 ’Because I Sing’ at the Roundhouse, London National Portrait Gallery’s 150th anniversary, London Royal Festival Hall re-opening celebrations, London Our gigs have included: 2012 Women’s History Month celebration, GMB union, London Change the World Chorus festival, Southbank Centre, London Velvet Fist at The Bossanyi Studio, Eastcote, Pinner, Middlesex 2011 Making Music Open Stage, Roundhouse, London Streetchoir Whitby 2011 Shout! Shout! Up with your song!, Women’s Library, London GMB union’s London Regional Equality Conference, London Women and Work exhibition opening, Women’s Library, London Raise Your Banners, Bradford 2010 10th Anniversary of the National Portrait Gallery’s Ondaatje Wing, London Chorus Festival – ‘Elevator Music’, Royal Festival Hall, London International Women’s Day, Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association Reclaim the Night, London Streetchoir Sheffield 2010 2009 Various Voices 2009, London Refugee Week – Camden Abu Dis event for Palestine Voicelab Welcomes foyer concert, Royal Festival Hall, London Raise Your Banners Festival, Bradford 2008 Morning Star Burns Supper, Red Rose Labour Club, London Whipps Cross Hospital campaign, Leytonstone 2007 Royal Festival Hall re-opening, London National Street Music Festival, Manchester Raise Your Banners Festival, Bradford 2006 Morning Star Burns Supper, Red Rose Labour Club, London Wandsworth Stop the War campaign, Balham National Portrait Gallery 150th anniversary, London National Street Music Festival, Newcastle 2005 Wandsworth Stop the War campaign, Balham Raise Your Banners Festival, Norwich 2004 'Sing and Survive' with Lizzie Shirley, London Liberation gig, London 21st National Street Music Festival, Leeds Velvet Fist CD launch, Cecil Sharp House, London Mordechai Vanunu Centre opening, London 2003 Book Launch: Mighty Lewd Books: The Development of Pornography in Eighteenth-Century England by Julie Peakman Brent Stop the War campaign 20th Street Music Festival Mordechai Vanunu Benefit, Conway Hall, London 2002 19th Street Music Festival, Hebden Bridge 88th Burston Strike School Rally: Norfolk Firefighters Benefit, Acton, London 2001 Co-op anniversary, Conway Hall Because I Sing, Roundhouse, London Cuba Solidarity, TUC Wortley Hall Golden Jubilee 18th Street Music Festival, Nottingham Raise Your Banners, Sheffield 2000 Appeared on BBC2 Body Chemistry Series International Women's Day, London Musicians Against Nuclear Arms, Brighton 18th National Street Music Festival, Manchester Onion Shed Theatre with Lizzie Shirley, London 1999 Levellers Day, Burford Hague Appeal for Peace, London Communist Party of Britain, Dalston 17th National Street Music Festival, Bradford Raise Your Banners, Sheffield Mordechai Vanunu Benefit, Conway Hall London Green Party Benefit, South London Older Feminist Network Xmas Party, London Chelmsford TUC, Chelmsford Joint gig with London Gay Men's Chorus, Croydon 1998 The Red Flag for BBC Radio 4, London Vanunu Benefit, London Velvet Fist CD Launch, London Levellers Day, Burford National Peace Council, London 16th National Street Festival: Leicester 1997 Democratic Left, London 15th National Street Festival: Lancs Raise Your Banners, Sheffield Labour Party, Battersea International Women's Day Celebration, London NAC, London MSF Conference, Brighton Women's Health AGM, London 1996 14th National Street Festival: Notts Older Feminist Network 100th : London Cuba Solidarity: Hackney Empire CND World Court Project: London Women Against Violence Conference: Brighton Conference Centre 1995 13th National Street Music Festival: Stroud House of Commons: Tony Benn's 70th Raise Your Banners: Sheffield 81st Burston Strike School Rally: Norfolk 1994 International Co-op Day: Battersea Park 12th National Street Music Festival: Leeds SOLFEST: Morning Star, Hackney Empire Mordechai Vanunu Benefit: Jackson's Lane OXFAM World fair: Conway Hall, London 1993 National Union of Teachers AGM Memorial Service for Oliver Tambo: St James's, Piccadilly, with the ANC Choir Inauguration of the Mayor of Islington 11th National Street Music Festival: Caerdydd Book launch for Leon Rosselson 1992 10th National Street Music Festival: Sheffield Reading Miners Benefit with Tony Benn VF Featured on album Undefeated 1991 9th National Street Music Festival: Hackney Book launch: The Story of Gardening by Martin Hoyles NAPO AGM: Llandudno Musicians Against Nuclear Arms (MANA): St James's, Piccadilly

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